Re: [CBQ] Western Star as separate train between Chicago and St. Paul

["Randal O'Toole" <rot@ti.org>]

According to 1949, 1951, and later Burlington timetables, the postwar Oriental Limited and its 1951 replacement the Western Star were always part of the Blackhawk between Chicago and St. Paul. As I interpret the timetables, the Blackhawk had sleepers, coaches, and a diner-lounge that went to Minneapolis. 

At St. Paul, the westbound Oriental/Star sleepers, coaches, and observation car were separated from the Blackhawk cars and a Great Northern diner was added. The Blackhawk left St. Paul first and arrived in Minneapolis roughly a half hour before the Oriental/Star. This differed from the Empire Builder whose diner went all the way between Seattle and Chicago and didn't have any cars switched in or out at St. Paul.

At some point in the 1960s, through coach service between Chicago and Seattle ended during the off season and coach passengers had to physically change trains in St. Paul. Also, my 1955 and later timetables shows the Blackhawk schedule being identical to the Mainstreeter as well as the Star. I'll have to find 1947 and 1952/53 timetables to see if the Oriental and Mainstreeter started out as separate trains, but I suspect they did not.

I'll be posting about three dozen Burlington timetables from the 1940s through the 1960s on Streamliner Memories in March and April. There will still be some gaps but they should help answer many questions like these.

Randal O'Toole
https://streamlinermemories.info

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